Masashi Kondoh

Colloidal Stability of Bare and Polymer-Grafted Silica Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquids

The colloidal stability of bare and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-grafted silica nanoparticles was studied in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ([C(n)mim])-based ionic liquids (ILs) with different anionic structures. The theoretical estimation of the colloidal interaction between monodispersed bare silica particles by using the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory indicates that bare silica particles cannot be stabilized and they rapidly form aggregates in all the ILs used in this study. The instability of bare silica particles was experimentally confirmed by dynamic light scattering measurement and in situ transmission electron microscopy observations by utilizing the negligible vapor pressure of ILs. This evidence suggests that electrostatic stabilization is inefficient in ILs because of the high ionic atmosphere and the resulting surface-charge screening. The PMMA-grafted silica particles exhibited long-term colloidal stability in [C(4)mim][PF(6)] and [C(n)mim][NTf(2)], which are compatible with the grafted PMMA. On the other hand, the PMMA-grafted particles could not be stabilized in [C 4mim][BF 4] due to the poor solubility of the grafted PMMA in the IL. Effective steric stabilization is important for obtaining stable colloidal particles in ILs.

Soft glassy colloidal arrays in an ionic liquid: colloidal glass transition, ionic transport, and structural color in relation to microstructure.

The colloidal glass transition, ionic transport, and optical properties of soft glassy colloidal arrays (SGCAs) that consist of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-grafted silica nanoparticles (PMMA-g-NPs) and a room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)amide ([C(2)mim][NTf(2)]), were investigated. At lower particle concentrations, PMMA-g-NPs were well-suspended in the IL without any aggregation or sedimentation, and the dilute suspensions showed liquid-like behavior. However, above a certain particle concentration, the suspensions became solidified and exhibited different structural colors depending on the particle concentrations. The liquid-solid transition of the SGCAs was essentially caused by colloidal glass transition. Due to the soft repulsive interaction between the particles, the effective volume fraction of the particle (ϕ(eff)) required for colloidal glass transition was higher than that of the hard sphere system and found to be approximately 0.70-0.74. The SGCA had sufficient ionic conductivity, which was greater than 10(-3) S cm(-1) at room temperature, even in the highly concentrated region. For ionic transport of the cation and the anion in the SGCAs, the decrease in diffusivity observed with the addition of the particles (D(g)/D(0)) was slightly greater for the [NTf(2)] anion than that of the [C(2)mim] cation, suggesting that the [NTf(2)] anion preferentially interacts with the PMMA chains. The SGCAs showed homogeneous, nonbrilliant, and angle-independent structural colors above the glass transition volume fraction. In addition, the color of the SGCAs changed from red to green to blue as the particle concentration increased. A linear relationship was found between the maximum wavelength of the reflection spectra and the center-to-center distance in the SGCAs.

Thermosensitive, Soft Glassy and Structural Colored Colloidal Array in Ionic Liquid: Colloidal Glass to Gel Transition

A novel soft material comprising thermosensitive poly(benzyl methacrylate)-grafted silica nanoparticles (PBnMA-g-NPs) and the ionic liquid (IL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)amide ([C(2)mim][NTf(2)]), was fabricated. The thermosensitive properties were studied over a wide range of particle concentrations and temperatures. PBnMA-g-NPs in the IL underwent the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) phase transition at lower temperatures with a broader transition temperature range as compared to the free PBnMA solution. Highly concentrated suspensions formed soft glassy colloidal arrays (SGCAs) exhibiting a soft-solid behavior and angle-independent structural color. For the first time, we report a discrete change in the angle-independent structural color of SGCAs with temperature because of a temperature-induced colloidal glass-to-gel transition. The interparticle interaction changed from repulsive to attractive at the LCST temperature, and it was characterized by a V-shaped rheological response and a direct electron microscope observation of the colloidal suspension in the IL. With unique rheological and optical properties as well as properties derived from the IL itself, the thermosensitive SGCAs may be of interest as a new material for a wide range of applications such as electrochemical devices and color displays.

Prosthecobacter fluviatilis sp. nov., which lacks the bacterial tubulin btubA and btubB genes.

Leptothrix cholodnii is a sheathed bacterium often found in metal-rich and oligotrophic aquatic environments. A bacterial strain that is able to degrade the NaOH-treated sheath of L. cholodnii was isolated. The isolate was a Gram-negative, aerobic and prosthecate bacterium. The optimum growth temperature and pH were 30 degrees C and pH 7.0, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 62.9 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the isolate is a member of the genus Prosthecobacter. The nearest relative was the type strain of Prosthecobacter vanneervenii, with a similarity of 97.1 %. However, the isolate does not possess the bacterial tubulin genes, btubA and btubB, unique to known species of the genus Prosthecobacter. It is proposed that the isolate represents a novel species, Prosthecobacter fluviatilis sp. nov. The type strain is HAQ-1(T) (=JCM 14805(T) =KACC 12649(T) =KCTC 22182(T)).